Hikidashi-guro sake cup

This is a newly fired *hikidashiguro* (pulled black) sake cup by Masao Akitani, an artist who trained under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and creates works brimming with unique originality amidst a fresh sensibility. This is the first new work from Masao Akitani in approximately two years, since his last firing. The piece captures the mystical essence of the inaccessible, ultra-high-temperature kiln, achieved through the *hikidashiguro* technique that has become a trademark of the Isezaki lineage. Because the piece is intentionally placed in front of the fire to achieve the *hikidashi* effect, the black slip applied to the surface is washed away by a heavy accumulation of *goma* (ash glaze), and the subsequent extraction and rapid cooling create a unique landscape of blended black, blue, and amber hues. Furthermore, it features excellent *goma* in the interior—the highlight of the *hikidashi* technique—with an obsidian-like glaze that appears to have melted and flowed before hardening. While the artist’s style prioritizes form, the rim is meticulously finished, and the piece is sized perfectly for a comfortable and natural drinking experience. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 6.9cm × Diameter 7.0cm × Height 5.6cm Masao Akitani was born in Saitama in 1968. In 1998, he began an apprenticeship under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, and after ten years of training, he built his own kiln in Bizen and became an independent artist in 2008. He held his first kiln opening in 2009. His work has been selected for the Tanabe Art Museum’s "Chanoyu Molding Exhibition" and the Japan Kōgei Association Chugoku Branch Exhibition, and he has received awards including the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Prize and the Encouragement Prize.